Barrel opener

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for opening barrels comprising a table for rotatably supporting a barrel and a cutting blade movable in response to a source of low fluid pressure into engagement with the top of the barrel, and then movable in response to a source of high fluid pressure causing the cutting blade to pierce the barrel top. Rotation is imparted to the barrel in timed relation to the application of the high pressure source to assure movement of the barrel before the high pressure is applied to the cutting blade. The barrel opener has a brush and vacuum source for cleaning off the barrel top up stream of the cutting blade. Rotation of the barrel through a little over one revolution causes the blade to sever the circular top from the barrel. The barrel opener is further provided with a gripping mechanism for releasably gripping the severed barrel top, and mechanical apparatus for sequentially (1) simultaneously lowering and tilting the severed barrel top to relieve the pressure in the barrel, (2) raising and tilting the barrel top in the opposite direction for leveling the barrel top (3) positioning a wiper blade in a barrel top wiping position, (4) swinging the gripping mechanism and severed barrel top gripped thereby across the wiper blade for wiping off the excess product from the undersurface of the barrel top, and (5) deactivating the gripping mechanism for releasing the barrel top into a storage bin after it has been moved clear of the barrel body.

United States Patent 1 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for openingbarrels compris- Peres June 19, 1973 BARREL OPENER ing a table forrotatably supporting a barrel and a cuti [75] Inventor: Anthony PeresBristol, NY ting blade movable in response to a source of low fluidpressure into engagement with the top of the barrel, [73] Assignee:Peres Electronic Machinery, Inc., and then movable in response to asource of high fluid Rochester, pressure causing the cutting blade topierce the barrel [22] Filem June 1971 top. Rotation is imparted to thebarrel in timed relation to the application of the high pressure sourceto assure PP 154,023 movementof the barrel before the high pressure isap plied to the cutting blade. The barrel opener has a a brush andvacuum source for cleanin off the barrel to 52 US. Cl. 3 6.4 3 s g P E[UL CL 24 up stream of the cutting blade. Rotation of the barrel l [58]Field or'sii iifffffffffff......II 56]4154, s, 8.5, thwugh a W Over Onerevlufin the blade /9 ls/l4 sever the circular top from the barrel. Thebarrel opener is further provided with a gripping mechanism [561 5::iizrs giissis 23:32:? *ziz ziizmzis;

a c p s y UNITED STATES PATENTS lowering and tilting the severed barreltop to relieve the i Powers pressure in the barrel raising and barrel $ttop in the opposite direction for leveling the barrel top c ean r3,358,365 12/1967 Carlson 30/4 R (3) poslt'omng a blade m a barrel topwpmg sition, (4) swinging the gripping mechanism and severed barrel topgripped thereby across the wiper blade for wiping off the excess productfrom the undersurface of the barrel top, and (5) deactivating thegripping mechanism for releasing the barrel top into a storage bin afterit has been moved clear of the barrel body.

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INVENTOR. ANTHONY R. PERES BY N ATTORNEYS BARREL OPENER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto container opening mechanism, and more specifically to a method andapparatus for opening barrels.

2. Description of Prior Art It is known in the prior art to providepower-operated opening mechanism for cans, barrels, and the like. InU.S. Pat. Nos. 1,610,094, 1,892,582 and 2,711,580, power-operatedelectric can openers are disclosed in which a can is placed on arotatable turntable which moves the can relative to a fixed cutterblade. U.S. Pat. No. 2,441,322 discloses an electric can opener in whichthe turntable carrying the can is raised causing the can to engage astationary cutting blade, and to operate a switch energizing a motorthat drives a can rim rotating element for rotating the can and severingthe top off of the can as the can rotates. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,886,887 and3,110,962, relate to barrel openers in which a cutting mechanism ismountable on and movable around the top of the barrel to cut off thetop. Although the aforementioned patents disclose mechanisms for openingcans, barrels and the like, such container opening mechanisms aresusceptible to jamming due to the fact that maximum force is applied tothe cutting blade prior to or simultaneously with the application offorce to the container for rotating it. In addition, none of the priorart patents discloses a container opening mechanism that automaticallysequentially cuts the top off of the container, grips the severed topand tilts it to relieve the pressure in the barrel or under the top,raisesand levels the top, wipes off the excess product from the bottomof the barrel top as it is swung away from the container, and thenreleases the barrel top into a storage bin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope amethod and apparatus for opening a barrel. The barrel opening apparatuscomprises a turntable for rotatably supporting a barrel releasably heldthereon by a quick release clamp. A cutting means comprising a rotatablecutting wheel is mounted above the top of the barrel, and a power meansis provided for applying low fluid pressure to the cutting means formoving the cutting wheel toward the top of the barrel, and then applyinghigh fluid pressure to the wheel after it engages the top causing thewheel to pierce the top. Drive means is provided for imparting rotationto the turntable and barrel prior to the application of the high fluidpressure to the cutting wheel. As a consequence, possible jamming of thebarrel rotating mechanism is minimized. After the barrel has beenrotated slightly over one revolution to cut the circular top from thebarrel, barrel top gripping means comprising a suction means or anelectromagnet is moved into engagement with the severed top forreleasably gripping it. A pneumatic-mechanical control means is providedfor controlling the gripping means, and initially tilts and preferablysimultaneously lowers the gripping means with the top gripped therebyfor tilting the top to release the pressure in the barrel. The controlmeans then lifts and levels the gripping means and top above the barrel,and then swings the gripping means and barrel top causing theundersurface of the top to move across a blade previously moved into awiping position at one edge of the barrel top for wiping off any excessproduct from the undersurface back into the barrel. The gripping meansand top are moved until the barrel top clears the barrel body and is invertical register witha storage bin. The gripping means is deactuatedreleasing the barrel top which drops into the bin.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for opening a barrel in which rotation is imparted to thebarrel before a cutting blade is pressed into engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus foropening a barrel in which initially a low pressure force is applied to acutting means for moving the cutting means into engaGement with thebarrel top, and then a high pressure force is applied to the cuttingmeans causing it to pierce the barrel top.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus forautomatically severing the top of a barrel, gripping the severed top,tilting the top to relieve the pressure in the barrel, raising andleveling the barrel top, and simultaneously swinging the barrel top awayfrom the barrel body and wiping off any excess product on theundersurface of the top during such movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forautomatically opening a barrel that is of simple design andconstruction, reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparentfrom the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrel opening mechanism of thisinvention with the barrel omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a segmental view in perspective of the cut ting wheel and rimfollower in a cutting position;

FIG. 3 is a segmental view in perspective of an electromagnetic grippingmeans;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the barrel opening mechanism of FIG. 1in a normal rest position with a barrel releasably locked in place, .andfurther schematically illustrating the pneumatic-mechanical controlmechanism for the barrel top gripping means mounted on the opposite sideof the barrel opening mechanism for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the barrel openingmechanism similar to FIG. 4 in which the barrel is rotating and thecutting wheel is in its cutting position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational schematic view of the barrel openingmechanism similar to FIG. 4 showing the cutting wheel retracted to itsrest position, and showing the pneumatic-mechanical control mechanismfor the gripping means in its barrel top gripping position in fulllines, and further showing the barrel top in its lowered and tiltedposition in dotted lines;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the barrel openingmechanism similar to FIG. 4 showing the control mechanism in a positionin which the gripping means is raised and leveled, and a wiping blade isin a wiping position relative to the barrel top;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevational view similar to FIG. 4 showingthe barrel opening mechanism returned to its normal rest position andthe gripping means deactuated for dropping-the severed barrel top into astorage bin; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram view showing a pneumatic system foroperating a cylinder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings,the barrel opening mechanism of this invention comprises a flat,horizontally oriented bed 10 mounted on adjustable legs 12 and rotatablysupporting a vertically extending shaft 14, the upper end of which isrigidly secured to the center of a circular turntable 16. The turntableis provided with a plurality of peripheral, depending casters 18 whichride on the upper surface of bed 10. The tumtable 16 has an arcuate,vertically-extending retaining rail 20 along a portion of the peripheryof the table which is engageable by the lower end of a barrel 22 mountedon the turntable. The barrel 22 is releasably held on the turntable andagainst rail 20 by a quick release clamp 24 of any suitable type adaptedto encircle the barrel and to be quickly latched and unlatched. Theshaft 14, turntable 16, and barrel 22 are rotatable as a unit by anysuitable drive mechanism as best seen in FIG. 4 such as a motor 26mounted on bed 10 for rotatably driving sprockets, one secured to themotor shaft and the other secured to shaft 14, through an endless chain28 trained over the sprockets.

A pair of spaced apart vertically extending side frame members 30 arerigidly secured to opposite sides of bed 10 adjacent the rear ofturntable 16 by any suitable means such as bolts or welding. The sideframe members 30 are further secured together by upper and lowerhorizontally-extending cross-bars 32. A barrel support roller 34 ismounted on each side frame member 30, and the rollers are engageable bya barrel rim 36 when the barrel is mounted on the turntable as seen inFIG. 4 for properly locating the upper end of barrel 22 relative to acutting means. The cutting means as best seen in FIG. 2 comprises ahousing 38 slidably mounted on a pair of vertically extending shafts 40supported between the upper and lower cross-bars 32. A laterallyextending shaft 42 is journaled for rotation in housing 38, and acircular follower 44 having a peripheral notch for receiving the upperbarrel rim 46, and a cutting or shearing wheel blade 48 having aV-shaped peripheral cutting edge and secured by a nut to shaft 42 forrotation therewith. An arcuate shroud 50 encircles the upper portion ofcutting wheel 48 and has a wire brush 52 secured to the front endthereof for brushing the barrel top 54 and removing any foreign mattertherefrom upstream or in the path of cutting wheel 48. The shroud 50 isconnected by a hose to any suitable vacuum source, not shown, forsucking away any foreign matter dislodged by brush 52 and cutting wheel48. The cutting wheel and housing 38 are movable between a normal restposition as seen schematically in FIG. 4 in which cutting wheel 48 isspaced above barrel 22, and a cutting position as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5in which cutting wheel 48 pierces the barrel top 54 adjacent rim 46 forsevering the barrel top. Movement of the housing 38 and cutting wheel 48is achieved by any suitable fluid cylinder such as an air cylinder 56secured to the lower cross-bar 32 and having a cylinder rod 58 securedto cutter housing 38. The air cylinder 56 may be of any known type asshown schematically in FIG. 9 having an air port at each end connectedby tubing to any suitable air valve 60 commercially available on themarket. The valve is pneumatically connectable to two sources of airpressure, a low source of substantially 10 pounds per square inch and ahigh source substantially in the range of 80 100 pounds per square inch.By sequentially operating valve 60, the low pressure air source isinitially connected to the proper end of air cylinder 56 for moving thecutting wheel 48 into engagement with barrel top 54. Substantially whenthis occurs, the same port is connected by valve 60 to the higherpressure source causing the cutting wheel 48 to pierce the barrel top54. After barrel 22 has rotated a sufficient distance to sever top 54,air valve 60 is again actuated to connect one port to exhaust and theother port to the low pressure source for returning the cutting wheel 48to its normal rest position. In order to reduce the noise and minimizeany shock or damage to housing 38 and/or cutting means, shock absorbers62 of any suitable type are interposed between the housing and uppercross-bar 32.

The barrel opening mechanism is further provided with gripping means forgripping the circular barrel top- 54 after it is severed from barrel 22,pneumaticmechanical control means for controlling movement of thegripping means to accomplish certain objectives, and wiping means forwiping off any excess product from the undersurface of the severedbarrel top 54. The barrel top gripping means (See FIG. 1) preferablycomprises suction means 64 rigidly secured to one end of an arm 66 thatis pivotally mounted via a spherical bearing 68 or the like intermediateits ends on a horizontally swingable boom 70. The suction means 64comprises a bell-shaped member connectable by a hose 72 to any suitablycontrolled suction or vacuum source. The opposite end of arm 66 ispivotally secured to a cylinder rod 74 of a tilt air cylinder 76 mountedon boom 70. Actuation of cylinder 76 controls pivotal or tiltingmovement of suction bell 64. The swing boom is secured to a verticallyextending shaft 78 slidably journaled in upper and lower arms 80 of aU-shaped bracket 82 rigidly secured to one of the side frames 30. Theshaft 78 is axially movable within arms 80 by a lift air cylinder 84secured to lower arm 80 of bracket 82, and having a cylinder rod, notvisible in FIG. 1, secured by a link 86 and sleeve 88 to a necked downcylindrical portion of shaft 78. Accordingly, actuation of lift aircylinder 84 transmits axial movement to shaft 78 for moving boom 70 andsuction bell 64 vertically up or down. The lower end of shaft 78 extendsthrough the housing of an air motor 90 secured to frame member 30, andis coupled by any suitable means, not shown, to air motor 90.. When theair motor is actuated, shaft 78 is rotated causing the swing boom 70secured thereto and suction bell 64 to move from their normal restpositions, in which the suction bell is out of vertical register oralignment with barrel 22, through an angle to a registered position, inwhich the suction bell 64 is directly above barrel top 54. Although thesuction bell 64 is a preferable form of gripping means, anelectromagnetic 92 as shown in FIG. 3 may also be used.

The wiping means as best seen in FIG. 1 for wiping off any excessproduct from the undersurface of the severed barrel top 54 comprises anL-shaped plate 94 secured to lower bracket arm 80 and having a laterallyextending pin 96 forming a pivot for a wiper arm 98 to which apreferably arcuately shaped wiper blade 100 of a radius substantiallyequal to the radius of the barrel is adjustably secured. The wiper bladeis movable by an air cylinder 102 pivotally mounted to bracket 82 andhavingthe bent end of its cylinder rod 104 pivotally secured to wiperarm 98. Accordingly, actuation of wiper blade air cylinder 102 pivotallymoves wiper arm 98 and blade 100 from its normal rest position as seenin FIG. 1 to a wiping position as seen in FIG. 7 in which the blade 100is horizontally positioned. Adjustment means are provided betweencylinder rod 104 and wiper arm 98 in the form of a plurality of openingsin the arm for receiving the end of cylinderrod 104. Further adjustmentmay be provided by constructing wiper arm 98 from two threadably engagedparts, not shown. If desired, the wiper blade 100 may be a straightblade rather than arcuately shaped, and suitable product catching meansprovided for catching any wiped off product that is not wiped offdirectly into the barrel.

The drive motor 26, air motor 90, and air cylinders 56, 76, 84 and 102are all operated in timed sequence by an electric-pneumatic logic systemof any known type mounted in part in a boxlike panel 106 secured by anysuitable means to frame members30. The electricpneumatic logic systemshown schematically in FIG. 9.

comprises a plurality of timing 'units of any suitable type for each ofthe barrel opening operations for actuating suitable solenoids or relaysin timedsequence for controlling any suitable air valves forsimultaneously connecting a source of pressurized or compressed air toone side'of a cylinder position and the opposite side of the piston toexhaust. The timing units, air cylinders, air valves, relays, etc., areall commercially available components, and may be pneumatically andelectrically connected together in any suitable way.

In the operation of this invention in accordance with one possiblesequence of operations, the barrel opening mechanism is normally in itsrest position as seen schematically in FIG. 4. A barrel 22 to be openedis placed on turntable 16 against retaining rail 20 by any suitableconveyor, portable barrel cart or hoist, not shown. The barrel 22 issecured to turntable 16 by guide release clamp 24. The operatordepresses any suitable start button, not shown, and drive motor 26 isenergized for rotating the barrel and turntable as a unit. Afterapproximately l/30th of a second delay provided by a timing unit ortime-delay mechanism, the power is connected to a solenoid or relaywhich moves an air valve 60 to a position for introducing compressed airunder pressure of substantially pounds per square inch to the cuttingwheel air cylinder 56 for moving cutting wheel 48 and rim follower 44into engagement with barrel top 54 and rim 46 respectively. As soon asthis occurs, another relay is actuated moving valve 60 to a position forintroducing air under pressure of substantially 80 100 pounds per squareinch to cutting wheel air cylinder 56 for forcing the cutting wheel 48through barrel top 54, and severing the top as barrel 22 is rotated.After the barrel has been rotated a sufficient distance to completelysever the top, which is normally a little more than one revolution, atiming unit disconnects the power to drive motor 26 for stopping furtherrotation of barrel 22. The timing unit actuates another relay moving anair valve to a position for introducing air under pressure to air motor90 for swinging boom 70 and bell member 64 of the suction means fromtheir rest positions as seen in FIG. 4 to a registered position in whichsuction bell 64 is directly over barrel top 54. The valve is turned offand the suction bell 64 remains in its registered position. At thistime, the timing mechanism actuates arelay for introducing pressurizedair to lift air cylinder 84 for moving suction bell 64 verticallydownwardly and into engagement with barrel top 54 as seen in full linesin FIG. 6. Substantially when this occurs, the timing unit actuates avalve connecting suction bell 64 to a source of vacuum, causing bell 64to releasably grip barrel top 54. The timingunit actuates another relayfor actuating. an air valve for introducing pressurized air to tiltcylinder 76 for simultaneously tilting suction bell 64 as lift cylinder84 preferably contin ues to move the bell downwardly. The result of thisaction is to tilt barrel top 54 as seen dotted in FIG. 6 to relieve thepressure in the barrel or under the barrel top. The timing unit actuatesanother pair of relays for simultaneously moving the air valves for thetilt and lift cylinders 76, 84 respectively in positions for introducingair to the opposite sides of the cylinders causing barrel top 54 to belifted above the top of barrel22 and to be moved to a level horizontalposition as seen in FIG. 7. The timing unit actuates another relay andan air valve to introduce air under pressure to wiper blade cylinder 102for pivoting wiper blade 100 from its rest position as seen in FIG. 1 toits wiping position as seen in FIG. 7. If desired, this operation ofmoving wiper blade 100 to its wiping position may be preferablyaccomplished prior to swinging boom to its registered position in whichsuction bell 64 is directly over barrel top 54. The timing unit thenactuates a relay for operating an air valve coupled to air motor fordriving the air motor in the opposite direction for rotating shaft 78,

swinging boom 70, suction bell 64 and barrel top 54 across wiper bladewhich wipes into barrel 22 or any suitable catching means any excessproduct from the undersurface of barrel top 54. When boom 70 and suctionbell 64 are returned to their normal rest positions as seen in FIG. 8,relays are actuated for moving air valves into positions for returningwiper blade 100 to its rest position and disabling air motor 90. Also,at this time, the timing unit actuates a relay disconnecting the vacuumsource to suction bell 64 causing it to drop barrel top 54 into anysuitable storage bin or the like.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:-

l. In a barrel opener for a barrel having a circular top and aperipheral rim surrounding the top, the combination comprising:

cutting means having a cutting blade;

first power means for moving said cutting means be tween a normalnon-cutting position and a cutting position, said first power meanssequentially applying low pressure to said cutting means to move saidcutting blade into engagement with the top of the barrel and thenapplying high pressure to said cutting means causing said blade topierce the top; and means for supporting and rotating the barrel intimed relation to the movement of said cutting means.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein time delay means iselectrically interposed between said cutting means and said barrelsupporting and rotating means, said time delay means delaying movementof said cutting means for a sufficient period of time to assure rotationof the barrel before the cutting blade is moved to its cutting position.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cutting meanscomprises a shock absorber for absorbing any shock transmitted to saidcutting means as it is moved to its cutting position.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cutting meanscomprises a brush in front of said cutting blade for engaging the top ofthe barrel and brushing it clean of foreign matter when said cuttingmeans is in its cutting position.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cutting meanscomprises a steel brush in front of said cutting blade for engaging thetop of the barrel and brushing it clean of foreign matter when saidcutting means is in its cutting position, and a shroud covering saidcutting blade and connected to a vacuum source for sucking out anyforeign matter brushed clean by said brush.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first power meanscomprises a fluid cylinder, and said low pressure is substantiallypounds per square inch, and said high pressure is in the range ofsubstantially 80 to 100 pounds per square inch.

7. The invention according to claim 1, and further including means forreleasably gripping the top of the barrel.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said gripping meanscomprises suction means.

9. The invention according to claim 1, and further including suctionmeans for releasably gripping the top of the barrel, said suction meanscomprising a bell-shaped member connected to a source of vacuum.

10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said gripping meanscomprises an electro-magnet.

11. The invention according to claim 1, and further including means forreleasably gripping the top of the barrel, said gripping means beingmounted for pivotal movement between an unregistered position and aregistered position in which said gripping means is in register with thebarrel top.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said gripping meanscomprises a suction means, and further including second power meansadapted when actuated to move said suction means between saidunregistered and registered positions.

13. The invention according to claim 12, and further including thirdpower means actuatable substantially when said gripping means is in itsregistered position to lower said gripping means into engagement withthe barrel top.

14. The invention according to claim 13, and further including fourthpower means adapted when actuated to tilt said gripping means while itis in gripping engagement with the barrel top.

15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said third and fourthpower means are actuated substantially simultaneously to lower and tiltsaid gripping means and barrel top releasably gripped thereby.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein said third power meansis further actuated in a reverse di- 1 rection to lift said grippingmeans and barrel top to a position clear of the barrel, and said forthpower means is actuated substantially simultaneously in the oppositedirection to move said gripping means and position the barrel top in alevel horizontal position.

17. The invention according to claim 16, and further including wipingmeans, and fifth power means for moving said wiping means between anormal nonwiping position and a wiping position.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said second power meansis actuated when said wiping means in in said wiping position for movingsaid gripping means from said registered position to said normalunregistered position causing said wiping means to wipe off the bottomof the barrel top.

19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein said gripping meanscomprises a suction means which is deactuated when the barrel top isclear of the barrel for releasing the barrel top which drops by gravityinto any suitable receptacle.

1. In a barrel opener for a barrel having a circular top and aperipheral rim surrounding the top, the combination comprising: cuttingmeans having a cutting blade; first power means for moving said cuttingmeans between a normal non-cutting position and a cutting position, saidfirst power means sequentially applying low pressure to said cuttingmeans to move said cutting blade into engagement with the top of thebarrel and then applying high pressure to said cutting means causingsaid blade to pierce the top; and means for supporting and rotating thebarrel in timed relation to the movement of said cutting means.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein time delay means is electricallyinterposed between said cutting means and said barrel supporting androtating means, said time delay means delaying movement of said cuttingmeans for a sufficient period of time to assure rotation of the barrelbefore the cutting blade is moved to its cutting position.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein time delay means is electricallyinterposed between said cutting means and said barrel supporting androtating means, said time delay means delaying movement of said cuttingmeans for a sufficient period of time to assure rotation of the barrelbefore the cutting blade is moved to its cutting position.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises ashock absorber for absorbing any shock transmitted to said cutting meansas it is moved to its cutting position.
 4. The invention according toclaim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises a brush in front of saidcutting blade for engaging the top of the barrel and brushing it cleanof foreign matter when said cutting means is in its cutting position. 5.The invention according to claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprisesa steel brush in front of said cutting blade for engaging the top of thebarrel and brushing it clean of foreign matter when said cutting meansis in its cutting position, and a shroud covering said cutting blade andconnected to a vacuum source for sucking out any foreign matter brushedclean by said brush.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 whereiN saidfirst power means comprises a fluid cylinder, and said low pressure issubstantially 10 pounds per square inch, and said high pressure is inthe range of substantially 80 to 100 pounds per square inch.
 7. Theinvention according to claim 1, and further including means forreleasably gripping the top of the barrel.
 8. The invention according toclaim 7 wherein said gripping means comprises suction means.
 9. Theinvention according to claim 1, and further including suction means forreleasably gripping the top of the barrel, said suction means comprisinga bell-shaped member connected to a source of vacuum.
 10. The inventionaccording to claim 7 wherein said gripping means comprises anelectro-magnet.
 11. The invention according to claim 1, and furtherincluding means for releasably gripping the top of the barrel, saidgripping means being mounted for pivotal movement between anunregistered position and a registered position in which said grippingmeans is in register with the barrel top.
 12. The invention according toclaim 11 wherein said gripping means comprises a suction means, andfurther including second power means adapted when actuated to move saidsuction means between said unregistered and registered positions. 13.The invention according to claim 12, and further including third powermeans actuatable substantially when said gripping means is in itsregistered position to lower said gripping means into engagement withthe barrel top.
 14. The invention according to claim 13, and furtherincluding fourth power means adapted when actuated to tilt said grippingmeans while it is in gripping engagement with the barrel top.
 15. Theinvention according to claim 14 wherein said third and fourth powermeans are actuated substantially simultaneously to lower and tilt saidgripping means and barrel top releasably gripped thereby.
 16. Theinvention according to claim 15 wherein said third power means isfurther actuated in a reverse direction to lift said gripping means andbarrel top to a position clear of the barrel, and said forth power meansis actuated substantially simultaneously in the opposite direction tomove said gripping means and position the barrel top in a levelhorizontal position.
 17. The invention according to claim 16, andfurther including wiping means, and fifth power means for moving saidwiping means between a normal non-wiping position and a wiping position.18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said second power meansis actuated when said wiping means in in said wiping position for movingsaid gripping means from said registered position to said normalunregistered position causing said wiping means to wipe off the bottomof the barrel top.
 19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein saidgripping means comprises a suction means which is deactuated when thebarrel top is clear of the barrel for releasing the barrel top whichdrops by gravity into any suitable receptacle.